The riveting clash saw Girona rise two points above second-placed Real Madrid, who had settled for a 1-1 draw against Real Betis the previous day.
The heroics began with Artem Dovbyk putting Girona in the lead, only for Robert Lewandowski to swiftly equalize for Barcelona. Undeterred, Girona reclaimed the lead through a blistering strike from Miguel Gutierrez.
Valery Fernandez extended the advantage, and despite Ilkay Gundogan’s goal injecting tension into the final moments, veteran striker Cristhian Stuani sealed the historic victory with a stoppage-time goal.
In the aftermath of this sensational win, Girona’s coach, Michel, exuded confidence in his team’s potential, declaring, “I don’t know if we have the ability to win La Liga, but we are able to beat any opponent.”
The defeat dealt a significant blow to Barcelona’s title defense, leaving them trailing Girona by a considerable seven-point margin. Barcelona’s iconic coach, Xavi, acknowledged Girona’s merit, admitting, “They deserved it, they’ve got a lot of merit, they’re seven points ahead of us. We want to cut down the gap; this is our reality – a Barca under construction.”
While Girona celebrated a historic triumph, Atletico Madrid, under the stewardship of Diego Simeone, secured a hard-fought victory. They claimed an early two-goal lead against Almeria, ultimately managing to weather the storm and secure the win despite Almeria’s spirited attempts to level the score.
In a somber note, tragedy struck the match between Athletic Bilbao and Granada, leading to its abandonment in the 18th minute following the death of a fan in the stands. The match is set to resume on Monday night with Athletic Bilbao holding a 1-0 lead.
The football world is now buzzing with the unexpected rise of Girona, questioning the established order and setting the stage for a thrilling La Liga season ahead.
(With inputs from AFP)